General Manager

Job Summary

As a direct report to the Managing Director, the General Manager is a key stakeholder in the institution’s administration overseeing many organizational functions, providing guidance and insight on policies, planning, and management practice, while identifying areas of risk and opportunities for efficiencies and improvements.

Position Description

POLICIES, CONTRACTS, AND COMPLIANCE

• Negotiates and executes key contracts and agreements as needed, including authors agreements, commercial producers’ contracts, collaborators and co-producer deal memos, rental agreements, outside vendor agreements, intellectual property licensing, and union agreements. The General Manager also reviews and edits contracts being negotiated by other department heads within the organization as needed for clarity and to insure compliance with existing policies and standard terms.
• Manages relationships with artist unions, including AEA, USA, SDC, AFM and other associations and represents the A.R.T. in all collective bargaining sessions.
• Evaluates the organization's policies, standards, and procedures for training, IT, etc. and supports department heads in the implementation of policies, regulatory, and legal requirements. Ensures that best practices in the industry are met and looks to identify next practices to advance the institutional strategy.
• Manages the Company Management team to ensure compliance with all performing artist union rules and payments, artist hospitality and comfort, and company-wide alignment with A.R.T.’s anti-racist practices.
• Develops and maintains a system of managing institutional records and contracts.
• Manages all requests and processes all claims for general liability, liquor licensing, and workers comp insurance needs on behalf of all A.R.T.’s vendors and partners.
• Responsible for applying for and obtaining all visas for performers, designers, and directors as needed, as well as maintaining compliance with U.S. tax laws and Harvard University’s non-resident alien compliance office.
• Manages the A.R.T. portion of the Youth Protection initiative, background checks, and multiple-state minor performance permits.
• With the Facilities Manager, Managing Director, and Patron Services team, maintains the various city permits and licenses and ensure compliance and staff training as needed including TIPS, CPR, etc.

• Assists with the production budgeting working closely with the Director of Production, the Producer, and other managers to maintain clear projections and budget to actuals.
• Assists with the creation of the institutional budget along with the Executive Director, Managing Director, Director of Finance, and department heads to ensure its timely submission.  
• Supports the development of financial impact studies and memos, budget letters, employment and staffing impact as it relates to seasonal and multi-year views.
• Collaborates with the Director of Finance and supports the finance department functions with day-to-day operations including approving large expenses, ensuring compliance with the chart of accounts, internal company and board policies, tax filing in multiple states, grant terms, etc.
• Works closely with the Facilities Manager to oversee operations, maintenance, and contractual arrangements of the theater and other institutional facilities including 18+ artists apartments and other A.R.T. facilities.
• Manages the Senior Payroll Supervisor on all company-wide payroll duties, including job data changes, MIDAS security updates, salary modifications, Harvard Sponsored Roles, Independent Contractor processing, etc.
• Manages the Database Administrator and their projects related to maintenance, reporting, and structure of the patron record database to ensure data security.
• Works with ticket services to accurately report income for royalty reporting and payments.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience.
• Degree in Arts Administration, Theater Management, or Finance preferred
• Five to ten years of experience in general management at a similarly sized institutions, or larger, required and management experience at a LORT theater preferred. 
• Strong negotiating skills and facility with contractual drafting, legal documentation, and agreements.
• High degree of organization, attention to details and ability to multi-task.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide effective staff management and provide support to all levels of the organization.  

Additional Information

A.R.T. is a leading force in American theater, producing groundbreaking work that is driven by risk-taking and passionate inquiry in Cambridge and beyond. Since 2008, Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus has pursued A.R.T.’s mission to “expand the boundaries of theater” by programming transformative theatrical experiences, always including the audience as a central partner. A.R.T. is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader of artistic innovation. In recent years, productions that began at A.R.T. have won 19 Tony Awards, and numerous works developed by A.R.T. have been performed throughout the country and around the world.

As the professional theater on the campus of Harvard University, A.R.T. is committed to playing a central role in the cognitive life of the University, catalyzing discourse, interdisciplinary collaboration, and creative exchange among a wide range of academic departments, institutions, students, and faculty members.  For more information, please visit our website at: https://americanrepertorytheater.org/

Commitment to Equity and Anti-Racism

A.R.T. is centering anti-racism as a core value, including in its policies, structure, programming, philanthropy, communications, pedagogy, and workplace culture. This journey will be sustained, ongoing, and foundational to the theater.

The A.R.T. strives to reflect and celebrate the diversity of Cambridge and Greater Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States and the world in its programming, artists, audience, boards, partners, and staff. The A.R.T. is committed to developing and producing work and creating environments that embrace the full breadth and beauty of our shared humanity. The A.R.T. unequivocally opposes any attempts to divide its community through acts of discrimination, omission, and violence. The A.R.T. is dedicated to making a welcoming and accessible space for people of any identity, background, or ability, including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, nationality or immigration status, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, physical/mental ability, appearance, socio-economic status, education level, and political viewpoint.

Harvard University supports a hybrid workplace model which will actively support some remote work. Specific days and schedules for on-site work and remote work will be discussed during the interview process. Please note hybrid workers must reside in a state where Harvard is registered to do business (CA, CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WA).   

Harvard University continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety and wellbeing of its faculty, staff, and students, as well as the wider community. Please note that all new employees will be required to provide confirmation of primary series COVID-19 vaccination upon hire, as detailed on our COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Webpage . Harvard University Health Services employees and other health care individuals are also required to be up to date on vaccination as described by the CDC. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. Additional information regarding this requirement, exemptions, verification of vaccination status, and other related policies and resources may be found on the University’s COVID-19 Information Website .

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard’s Total Rewards website to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

AR0159 Arts Director

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Schedule

Full time. Monday through Friday. 35 hours per week. 

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.